Is Christian Charity Dead? Forrest Frank, Taylor Swift, and What the Bible Says About the World

Welcome back to Going Deeper! After a short break, I’m so excited to return with a brand-new season—and to finally share a few updates on what’s been happening behind the scenes, including my upcoming book on the “good life” and my new newsletter, The Digest. 

In today’s episode, we’re diving into several big conversations happening across Christian culture—from Forrest Frank’s decision not to attend the Dove Awards, to the online discourse surrounding Jackie Hill Perry and Christian Nationalism, and even the controversy surrounding Taylor Swift’s latest album. These cultural moments have raised numerous questions about personal convictions, Christian liberty, and what unity entails within the body of Christ.

We’ll talk about how to discern between sin and personal conviction, why sanctification looks different for every believer, and how to practice humility and grace when we disagree. At the heart of it all is this: how can we live in the world but not of it, and what does God say about how we should live as witnesses of Jesus? 

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Timestamps:
00:00 — Welcome Back + Book Update
03:16 — Cultural Observations 
06:26 — Forrest Frank’s and the Dove Awards
12:18 — Jackie Hill Perry, Allie Stuckey, and Online Discourse
15:09 — Is listening to Taylor Swift a sin?
27:44 — Charitable Disagreeing
31:54 — Conformity to the World
36:11 — Friendship with the World 
44:13 — Loving the World 
50:11 — Being in the World but Not of It
54:14 — Answering Listener Question